Štěpánka Pfeiferová Socioeconomics of Housing Institute of Sociology CAS , Prague , CR

1. HELPS PROJECTHousing and Home-care for the Elderly and vulnerable people and Local Partnership Strategies in Central European cities IFA 11th Global Conference on Ageing 28 May – 1 June 2012, Prague, Czech Republic Štěpánka Pfeiferová Socioeconomics of Housing Institute of Sociology CAS, Prague, CR stepanka.pfeiferova@vupsv.cz Socio-economicsofHousing Department Institute of Sociology, AcademyofSciences, Czech Republic

2. Project HELPS • The project is implemented through the CENTRAL EUROPE Programme co-financed by the ERDF • Programme: • Active ageing in the CENTRAL EUROPE • Priority 4 • Enhancing competitiveness and attractiveness of cities and regions • Area of Intervention 2 • Addressing the territorial effects of demographic and social change on urban and regional development • Concept 6 • Innovative housing and care solutions for the elderly and vulnerable persons in Central European cities • Duration: October 2011 – September 2014

3. Background • Socio-demographic changes → dramatic increase of the number of elderly and vulnerable people • Improvement of health conditions → decrease of the need for intensive care • The primary aim nowadays is to give vulnerable people as much control over their lives as possible • More elderly and vulnerable people continue to live in their own flats/houses and need support for active re-integration • Central Europe is still characterized by centralistic approaches that have often difficulties in matching with the needs of such population groups • Offer of standardized solutions for supposedly homogenous needs • Favour the institutionalisation and the separation of such population groups from other residential areas and/or population groups • Focus on intensive care-provision while other needs are neglected • Neighbourhood-based care and housing solutions needed to increase the autonomy of these groups and contribute to maintain their abilities

4. Project’s objectives To improve the quality of life of vulnerable groups, especially elderlyand people with disabilities residing in urban areas in Central Europe To develop the most appropriate living environment and care for them To foster innovative housing and care solutions for elderly and other vulnerable people with a view to increase their autonomy To support elderly and other vulnerable people in living in their own homes To find management solutions in integrative housing and enable participation of the elderly and vulnerable groups in the coordination of relevant stakeholders To develop innovative housing and homecare solutions by supporting models of integrated local governance orienting policies, products and services To decrease functional and spatial separation of different age groups in urban areas

5. Areas for innovative practices • community building • housing accessibility (including technical devices, ICT) • housing affordability • social and health care • access to informationand/or education

6. Partnership FVG Region – ITA City of Leipzig, Economic Development Office – D Municipality of the City of Debrecen – HU Veneto Region – ITA Association of Towns and Communities of Slovakia - SK Institute of Sociology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic – CZ Institute for Sociology Slovak Academy of Sciences – SK German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development – D Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Center – PL Samariterbund Burgenland – A Hungarian Maltese Charity Service – HU Slovenian Federation of Pensioners’ Organizations – SLO City of Brno - CZ Institute of Social Research - ITA Ministry of Labour - SLO

7. Workplan • WP1: Project management & coordination • WP2: Communication, knowledge management and dissemination • WP3: Transnational review of innovative practices in housing and care for elderly and other vulnerable people in Central European cities– Institute of sociology CAS (CZ) • Transnational overview of innovative policies • Comparative analysis of best practices • Definition of needs and formulation of recommendations • WP4: Pilot actions- Municipality of the City of Debrecen(HU) • Focus on community-based development • Creating local governance platforms • WP5: Transnational design of strategies and actions for mainstreaming pilot cases- Veneto Region, Department of Social Services(IT) • Local Action Plans • Transnational recommendations and toolkit

8. Expectedoutcomes Sound review of innovative practices and the context of their application Publications based on gathered information Small number of piloted newly developed or reviewed services and housing solutions for the targeted population groups(introduction of innovative practices) Needs-driven and efficient provision of services/solutions for the targeted population group Definition of needs, recommendations for national policies and transnational programs

9. Thank you for your attention! http://seb.soc.cas.cz/projekty/helps.htm stepanka.pfeiferova@vupsv.cz Socio-economicsofHousing Department Institute of Sociology, AcademyofSciences, CzechRepublic